Matt Garza quiets his former team

Milwaukee Brewers center fielder Carlos Gomez, center scores on a single by Jonathan Lucroy against the Chicago Cubs during the third inning of a baseball game Friday, April 25, 2014, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Darren Hauck)

AP

First base umpire Kerwin Danley, left, talks with Milwaukee Brewers manager Ron Roenicke after the Brewers challenged Danley's call that said Ryan Braun was out at first base against the Chicago Cubs during the third inning of a baseball game Friday, April 25, 2014, in Milwaukee. After the review the call was overturned, and Braun was safe. (AP Photo/Darren Hauck)

AP

Chicago Cubs pitcher Carlos Villanueva reacts after giving up an RBI single to Milwaukee Brewers' Jonathan Lucroy during the third inning of a baseball game Friday, April 25, 2014, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Darren Hauck)

MILWAUKEE—Nearly a month into the season, Matt Garza got his first win for the Milwaukee Brewers against his former team, the Chicago Cubs.

Garza, who signed a four-year, $50 million deal with the Milwaukee in the offseason, retired the Cubs in order in four of the first six innings. He gave up two runs and four hits while striking out seven and walking one over seven innings as Milwaukee defeated Chicago 5-2 Friday night.

“I’m just happy that I was in control of my mechanics all game,” Garza said. “I just wanted to go and establish my game plan and not get too over-amped.”

Garza insisted facing the Cubs, for whom he pitched in 2011 and 2012, as well as part of last season, didn’t generate any added emotion for him.

“It’s another game. I’ve been on five different teams. If I had to get up for everybody, I’d be tired by mid-season,” Garza said.

Brewers manager Ron Roenicke liked what he saw from Garza.

“He really went after guys.” Roenicke said. “His command was good. He had really good stuff today.”

Lyle Overbay homered and Carlos Gomez and Ryan Braun each had three hits and a stolen base for the Brewers, who have a Major League best 17-6 record.

Garza (1-2) said he’s enjoying finally playing on a winning team.

“When you go through years of constantly hoping, you kind of run out of hope,” he said. “We’re going out with the attitude that we are going to win. It brings up a lot better emotion. It’s confidence. That what we’re playing with a lot of right now.”

Garza’s ability to keep pitches down in the zone made it tough on Chicago’s hitters, Cubs manager Rick Renteria said.

“He doesn’t rattle very easily. He goes right after hitters. You have to tip your cap to him,” Renteria said.

Francisco Rodriguez pitched a scoreless inning to pick up his 10th save in 10 chances.

Cubs starter Carlos Villanueva (1-5) gave up five runs and 11 hits in five innings.

The Brewers when Cubs left fielder Junior Lake appeared set to make a routine catch of Scooter Gennett’s line drive but the ball sailed past Lake’s glove and rolled to the fence, allowing Gomez to score.

Braun’s single drove in Gennett, who scored as Lake airmailed a throw to the plate, giving the Brewers a 2-0 lead.

The Cubs cut the lead to 2-1 in the third on Emilio Bonifacio’s run-scoring single.

The Brewers extended their lead to two runs again in the bottom half of the inning. With Gomez on first, Braun hit a ground ball deep in the hole at short. Cubs’ shortstop Starlin Castro made a strong throw and umpires initially ruled Braun out at first. After a delay of two minutes and 20 seconds, Braun was ruled safe. Jonathan Lucroy followed with a single to score Gomez.

Overbay led off the fourth with a homer, giving the Brewers a 4-1 lead. Aramis Ramirez’s sacrifice fly in the fifth extended the lead to 5-1.

Ryan Sweeney’s ground-out plated a run for the Cubs in the seventh.

Notes: The Brewers unveiled a statue of Hall of Fame radio announcer Bob Uecker, situated in the last row of the upper deck behind home plate, that pays tribute to the classic Miller Lite ad campaign in which he starred. .. Rodriguez tied Robb Nen for 18th place with his 314th career save. … Brewers manager Ron Roenicke applauded Major League Baseball’s attempt to eliminate the confusion that has surrounded the “transfer” rule this season by returning to the previous interpretation for when a fielder loses possession of a ball while trying to shift it from his glove to his hand. “I like what they did. I think it makes sense and it is the right way,” Roenicke said. … Chicago reliever Neil Ramirez made his Major League debut. … The Brewers’ Marco Estrada (1-1) will face the Cubs’ Travis Wood (1-2) on Saturday.